Recipe for sharing good will

While seated before a heaping plate of turkey, potatoes and vegetables Thursday, Ralph Nutter boasted about his Christmas tradition of coming to the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada dinner for 25 years, through hard times and not.

"I want to keep it as a tradition," the disabled Las Vegas resident said, pushing a fork into a scoop of stuffing and adjusting the Santa suit he donned for the day.

Nutter even said he hopes the white, wiry beard on his face will grow and help him look more the part next year.

The 60-year-old has serious back problems and doesn't work. He said he has encountered his share of hard times and even some "Scrooges" this year.

"People have a hard way to go," he said. "It's good to come here, see people smiling. It's nice to feel the support."

Nutter and his wife, Marla, were among the hundreds of people who sat down for a warm meal Thursday at the Catholic Charities' campus at 1501 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

More than a hundred volunteers were on hand to serve an estimated 2,500 meals to homeless and needy people living in the Las Vegas Valley.

The dining hall buzzed with the activity of volunteers and a steady flow of visitors. Greeters bellowed "Merry Christmas!" as they found seating for diners. The charity expected to serve an estimated 6,000 pounds of turkey, 2,000 pieces of pie and 700 pounds of dressing.

Yaraisy Bravo, 9, skipped straight to the pumpkin pie Thursday morning.

"It's really good," she said with a giggle.

Yaraisy said her favorite part of the meal was being with her family, who was seated around her.

Signs of the holiday were abundant at the dinner but signs of hard times that have befallen many were present as well. One man who came for dinner wore a Santa hat with "help" written on the brim.

Thursday was the first Christmas Las Vegas resident Shannon Bernard volunteered to help with the dinner. She even made the event a family affair by bringing her husband, four children and sister's family to help.

"It feels good to give back," she said. "We are fortunate to have jobs and homes and be able to put food on the table."

The holiday feast wasn't just a first for Bernard.

Karen Karsaway, a 54-year-old unemployed former waitress, came to her first Catholic Charities' Christmas dinner and said she was overwhelmed by the generosity she received.

"God bless good will towards man," she said with a grin. "Anyone that need's God's help just has to ask and they will get it. That's what keeps me alive."

Contact reporter Maggie Lillis at mlillis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279.